Session 4: DiscipleshipThis is for you and your family to do together. Please include the Sponsor as often as possible.Take time to do this session so that you will be ready for Confirmation.

Set up:- 1 candle to represent the light of Christ - Cover a table with a cloth (green for Ordinary time, Purple for Advent or Lent, white for Christmas season) - A Catholic Bible – for any readings - At Home Exam handy to answer questions throughout the Sessions- snack – if you decide you would like one- Music: If you choose to use music, please set a quiet atmosphere with soft music playing.- You will need the internet to watch the YouTube video(s)

Begin in a quiet space without other distractions. Please turn off your phones.We invite you to center yourselves for prayer.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,Thank you, God, for being with us today. As the time draws near for Confirmation, We ask God to bless us with peace, joy and understanding. Open your heart to live more like You in everything that we do .Help us to love and understand others as Jesus loves and

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understands us.May we be disciples on this journey, as we prepare for this Sacrament.We ask this through Christ our Lord. AmenDiscipleship:

What do these pictures seem to mean?1) keep our environment clean2) Helping those in need3) going to church and listening to God’s word.It is about being part of a larger community and giving back to that community. These are a few times that Jesus calls all of us to be Disciples.What does Disciple mean: (from the Merriam-Webster dictionary) “one who accepts in spreading the truths and beliefs (doctrines) of another.”There are three types of Discipleship:

1) Content oriented – sharing the Word, studying God’s Word, and understanding it with the community (Head oriented)

2) Person oriented – spreading the Word, truth and belief in God (Heart oriented)

3) Task oriented – doing things for others, mentoring, learn and act by example (Hand oriented)

Jesus calls all of us to be Disciples in Word, action, and deeds.

We are asked to use our head, our heart

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and our hands in all that we do.

Watch this Video on “Making Disciples – Disciples make Disciples” by Peter Hobbs

https://youtu.be/eAHnHUKrWRU

This video has no words spoken but the images can be quite powerful.1) Jesus calling His Disciples to spread the Word of God2) Not just in our churches but in our homes and at work/business/school3) Talking to friends and family about God and the amazing things that can happen

with Jesus in our lives4) Sometimes we get overwhelmed with meetings and schedules that can cause

stress, expenses, debt, etc – a heavy load5) If we allow ourselves to “Let go and Let God” – to be more free to experience God’s

Love so that we can love and care for others6) The Mission to help “Plant the Seed” and let “God do the Rest”7) This is what church is actually not about the building but community and people.

How can I learn to be a good Disciple of Jesus?Volunteering to help someone without getting anything in return is a great way to start.During COVID volunteering is not as easy, but it is still possible.

Jesus asks us to give of ourselves to others for 1 hour a week.

Here are some ideas that might help you to see yourself as a disciple.There might even be things that we are already doing that we didn’t realize was volunteering and doing what Jesus asks of us to do.

Opportunities to VolunteerMinistries in the Parish: Sanitizing hands before and after Mass, Disinfecting pews, Point of Entry (with parent) – checking off people who are attending that Mass- shoveling sidewalk/lawn work for a neighbor (without getting paid for it)- cleaning or organizing your room or house without being asked or getting paid- bringing food/goodies to Peoples Place/Homeless Shelter - taking used clothes and items to Donation Centre’s- bringing food items to the Church and adding it to the Food Bank donations- Spring Clean Up – playgrounds, parks, neighborhoods, around school grounds- Recycling and reducing the amount of waste (collecting it each week with pay)

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- any other ideas you might have in helping out in the community and looking beyond yourself.

We thank you for getting involved in the life of our community!

Tell Me a Story: Every parent wants their child to grow up to live a good and successful life. We ask Parents and Sponsors to share with the student, their hopes and dreams for the future. This would be a good time to consider writing the “Hope and Dreams” letter. (see template attachment at the bottom of this session after the Closing Prayer)

Hopes and Dreams:Now that your parents and

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Sponsor(s) have shared their Hopes and Dreams for you, what are your Hopes and Dreams? Are they the same or different?

Please share with each other and why they may be the same or different? Here is an activity that you can fill in.

Building on What We Know: A Life Well Lived:Let’s move into the future, maybe in a time machine.Imagine that you are celebrating your 80th birthday! All your family and friends are gathered together to help make this a special occasion. What 3 good things would you hope guests would say about your life?

God Has a Plan! Learning to be disciples is how we learn to live the Grace we receive in Confirmation.

Together, let’s explore these quotes to see what plan God has for each one of us.Please read aloud each of the quotes and then discuss them.

Micah 6:8 “What God requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.”How does God want us to live our lives?- to do JUSTICE - to love KINDNESS - to walk HUMBLY with

God

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Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.” What is God asking us to do in this verse? - God says, “I have a plan for you.” - to TRUST in God’s plan

- Recognize that this plan is for your FUTURE and your HAPPINESS

Psalm 139:13-14 “ You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful: I know it with all my heart.” How long has God had a plan for you?- from before you were born GOD KNEW YOU- God created us and we are WONDERFULLY made!

God has created us in his own image and wants us to continually strive to be more like him in all we do and say. God wants us to be His DISCIPLES. He wants us to see Him in everyone and everything. God’s Work! Our Hands!

We are so fortunate that we have been given this gift.

The LORD’S PRAYER:

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The Lord’s Prayer is perhaps one of the best known of all Christian prayers. This is to help deepen our understanding of what this prayer is really asking us to do. Jesus gave us this prayer not only to teach us how to pray, but to teach us how to live our lives.

We are now going to watch a YouTube video on a young man’s conversation with God when he goes to say his prayers. This video is from Skit Guys. They have lots of free video’s that you can watch, just like Busted Halo. Try a few of them out at home.

Video: The Lord’s Prayer – Skit Guys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g0vKqR2dik

The Lord’s Prayer

As a group with your family and maybe your Sponsor; look at a deeper meaning of the Our Father and not just the words we speak. Keep in mind what the video talked about also.

Our Father: Not just Jesus’ father, but the Father of each and everyone of us.

Who art in heaven: God is in Heaven, but He is also with us each day of our lives

Hallowed be thy name: Hallowed means to make Holy. We honor and respect God and his Holy name.

“Holy is Your name”

Thy Kingdom come: We pray for and work towards the kingdom here on earth, even as we wait for the joy of our heavenly kingdom.

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Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven: This is where we ask God to help us carry out His will through Body/Mind/Spirit“I am prepared to listen for God’s voice in prayer”

“I want to live my life the way God asks me to do”

This one is to be filled in on page 33 of your booklet Give us this day our daily bread:

God can give us all we need – both material and spiritual blessings. Remember these are our needs and not necessarily our wants. Again in all aspects of God – Body/Mind/Spirit“God will provide me with the strength to live my life”

This one is to be filled in on page 33 of your booklet also.

And forgive us our trespasses: We know that we will mess up again and again – and we ask for God’s forgiveness, just like we ask for forgiveness from others.

“God does forgive us for the things we have done wrong”

As we forgive those who trespass against us: Just as God forgives us for the things we have done wrong, we need to forgive those who have hurt us or done things wrong.

And lead us not into temptation:God, please help us to stay on the right path – guide us away from wrongdoing“God helps me to make the right decisions”“God helps me avoid things that will harm me or others”

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But deliver us from evil: keep us from falling into bad ways. We want to follow you God.

Amen: Yes, I believe!

Many references are in Scripture, including the Lord’s Prayer. They show us how God wants us to live our lives. Think of one area where your family is an example of good discipleship and one area where you could do better.

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer not only to teach us how to pray but to teach us how to live. You can always talk to a family member or friend about these conversations. You can even text or skype your Sponsor and ask these questions.

How can you better live your lives as disciples of Christ?Example: “I can try and be more patient with people in my life who I find difficult to deal with”

How is prayer a model for how we are to live as disciples of Jesus?

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Example: “I can try to follow the model of forgiveness that Jesus teaches in the Lord’s Prayer.”

I want to be more like Jesus in all I say and do.

Think about it:

How will I live a good life?

Discussion Questions to do togetherPlease share with your family and Godparent/Sponsor the “Continuing Your Faith Journey 3 and 4” sheet.(attached)

Please join in the Closing Prayer.10

We begin in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

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Dear Parents,

We, the Committee for Confirmation at St. Mary’s Parish, need your help to make this sacrament an exceptional event. Would you please write a letter to your child expressing your hopes, wishes and love for them, explaining how excited you are that they are about to be confirmed?

THIS LETTER WILL BE GIVEN TO YOUR CHILD DIRECTLY!

DO NOT send it to the church or office

Below is a sample letter, to help you with creating your own letter. If you have any questions, please contact Charmaine at the Parish Office. (403) 347-3114 or charmaine.marcinek@rdcrs.ca

Date...

Dear (your daughter or son’s name)

It is hard to believe that you are about to be confirmed. You have grown up to be a beautiful young lady (or handsome young man)!

God blessed us on (their birth date) by having you become a member of our family. I still remember how excited we were to have a (son or daughter).

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At your baptism, your Godparents were honored to take the responsibility of helping to raise you in the Catholic Faith. We all took that responsibility seriously. It was a beautiful ceremony. You were dressed in a white gown and you did not cry when the Priest blessed you with water.

You have brought such joy to our lives. Over the years we have watched you change from a toddler to a young adolescent. You have always been inquisitive about mechanical objects. We love the energy you put into the activities you enjoy. You are so creative, and your drawings are very well done.

Other suggested topics: hobbies, sports, friends, family

Positive attributes: curiosity, quick-witted, funny/humorous, responsible, caring, loving, etc

(Name of son or daughter) continue to strive to be the best you can be.

Mistakes will happen but that is part of learning. That is why we celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation. Remember that Jesus is your role model. He was baptized at the beginning of his public ministry. This was before Jesus performed miracles, healed the sick and taught the disciples. God told him that he was his beloved son. You are our beloved son or daughter.

The sacrament of Confirmation is a very big step in your Catholic Faith. You are now old enough to renew the vows of your baptism with the support of your godparents and parents. Make the best of the opportunities provided. We are so proud of you!

Love,

We hope this will give you some ideas to help you write your personal letter. Thank you for making this a celebration to remember!Sincerely, the Confirmation Planning Committee

Continuing Your Faith Journey Session #3 and 4Make Lasting Impressions with Great Conversations

Activity to be shared with your Sponsor, Parents, and other family members at home.

It doesn’t always need to be a long discussion; a short, quick “What do you think?’

is sometimes very thought-provoking and memorable.

Most importantly, take turns sharing thoughts, memories, past experiences and future hopes together, and have some fun getting to know this side of each other better.

Sharing Items: (feel free to add your own)

1. How does knowing that God is ALWAYS ready to forgive your sins make you feel?

2. Many references in Scripture, including the Lord’s Prayer, show us how God wants us to live. Think of one area where your family is an example of good discipleship and one area that you could improve upon. How can you better live your life as a disciple of Christ?

3. How is the Lord’s Prayer a model for how we are to live as disciples of Jesus?13

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